4 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



I have not been able to discriminate between home and foreign- 

 bred Teal, and therefore their date of arrival is not easy to 

 define exactlj\ 



This year (1886) the first flight of Wigeon arrived on the 

 11th September. This is an earlier date than usual for them, 

 and generally they may not be expected for at least ten days to a 

 fortnight later. This was only a small companj^, however, and 

 not until Sept. 19th did another small lot of about thirty birds 

 arrive. On October 4th several comj)anies arrived on the coast, 

 and after this date there is a constant increment of Wigeon, until 

 their regular winter numbers are made up. It is generally' 

 supposed that Wigeon are night- feeding birds, and that they 

 spend the day at rest in some open extent of water, free from 

 molestation. On this coast, however, when they first ai'rive their 

 habits are very different from this, and they prefer to feed on the 

 ooze during the daytime, spending the night at rest on some 

 secluded pond or lake. I have come to this conclusion after 

 carefully studying their habits, and I have frequently seen them, 

 after quietly feeding all day, leave the ooze just before dusk, and 

 betake themselves to a neighbouring pond, where they spend the 

 night, returning to the ooze to feed shortly after daybreak. 

 During this period, however, their numbers are wofully reduced 

 by punt-gunners, and by the end of November — by which time 

 mostly all the regular winter stock has arrived — they have 

 assumed the habit of feeding almost exclusively by night, 

 spending the day on the open sea. 



It would be interesting to know what course tliey would 

 pursue if left entirely unmolested. From their habits during the 

 early weeks of their arrival I cannot help thinking that they are 

 forced by man to assume a habit at variance with what appears 

 to be their wont, and the same remarks apply to Grey Geese 

 feeding inland, as I hope to show farther on. 



Tidal influences, of course, affect the Wigeon, and there is no 

 doubt that during a short winter's day, when their feeding-grounds 

 are submerged, they would resort at night to the uncovered oozes 

 to feed ; but, given the opportunity, they unquestionably avail 

 themselves of a diurnal feed, until they are scared away by the 

 deadly fire of punt-gunners. 



Moreover, the flocks tliat arrive first are composed mostly 

 of young birds of the year, inexperienced to the dangers of an 



